Opinion: Taxing robots won’t help US workers or create jobs


The basic question is whether automation is good or bad for average workers. — AFP Relaxnews

The debate over automation has been overshadowed by more immediate economic problems created by the coronavirus crisis. But when things return to some semblance of normality, it’s sure to crop up again and may well play a role in how a recovery takes shape.

The basic question is whether automation is good or bad for average workers. The latest salvo against the robots comes from economists Daron Acemoglu, Andrea Manera, and Pascual Restrepo. In a recent National Bureau of Economic Research paper entitled "Does the US Tax Code Favor Automation?”, they argue that taxes are higher on labour than on capital equipment, causing companies to invest too much in machines and not enough in manpower.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
   

Next In Tech News

Opinion: Ultimate Fakebook
Students innovate to combat waste, dementia and allergies
Innovative AI solution by Malaysian teens aids stroke rehabilitation
Former BP boss Looney to chair US data company Prometheus Hyperscale
Indian regulator rejects Apple request to put antitrust report on hold
Share too much info on social media and risk being hacked, warns MCMC
What is Bluesky and why are people leaving X to sign up?
Opinion: Messages can gobble up storage space
ChatGPT writes better poetry than Shakespeare, most people think
Game review: Help the sleeping Smurfs wake up from Gargamel's spell

Others Also Read